Welcome to

The Business of Language

from the Regional Language Network North East

(RLN NE)

July 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 


The Job Site for People with Languages
  July 2003

 

The Business of Language is a monthly guide on language and cultural issues affecting businesses.

To prepare you for your summer holidays, here are some key words to help you on your way...

                   Hello             Goodbye               Please            Thankyou
French        Bonjour          Au revoir               S'il vous plaît    Merci
Spanish       Hola               Hasta Luego          Por favor         Gracias
German      Guten Tag       Auf Wiedersehen   Bitte                 Danke

 

Cultural Etiquette

Each month we will give you one important tip to help you avoid embarrassing gaffes!

German Business

Always be EARLY for meetings - punctuality is the key! Always shake hands when you arrive, when you depart and on subsequent meetings. Address people formally with 'Herr' or 'Frau' followed by their surname.
Be equipped with exhaustive reports and documentation to support your verbal discussions and stand out from the crowd by providing written materials in German.
Further tips are available at www.rln-northeast.com

Have you considered a cultural briefing session to improve communication with your target market?
See www.rln-northeast.com/blis/index.htm for details of providers.

Export Communications Review

The Export Communications Review scheme is supported by a government subsidy. It will cost your company just £50 and could help you improve the way you present your products or services to overseas customers - and open the door to further assistance.
How it works
Export Communication Review Consultants are experienced in carrying out a detailed independent audit of your current communications with overseas customers - and will make practical recommendations for improvement.

Visit www.rln-northeast.com/info/index.htm for further information.

 
 Summer break!


There won't be an August edition of "The Business of Language" but we will be back in September!

 

One National Body for Languages

For the past year the Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research (CILT) and the Languages National Training Organisation (LNTO) have been working together to establish a single national body which will promote languages to people of all ages and in all walks of life. An operational merger took place on June 2, and an official launch will take place in the autumn. The new centre will be known as CILT - the National Centre for Languages. It will support, promote and develop language learning and research, language teaching and training, and language skills and services. It will continue to manage major national initiatives in support of language capability.

New Appointment

Dr Lid King, currently Executive Director of CILT, will take up the new post of National Director for Languages.

Congratulations!!

The winner of June's quiz was Yvonne Gill (ENTRUST), who is on her way to Amsterdam!
The correct answers were:

  1. 46% of North East businesses are aware of language barriers

  2. The DFDS Seaways routes from the UK are:
    Newcastle - Ijmuiden (Amsterdam)
    Newcastle - Kristiansand - Gothenburg
    Harwich - Cuxhaven
    Harwich - Esbjerg

Let us know what you think of the newsletter and what sort of information you would like to see. E-mail: rln-northeast@onenortheast.co.uk.

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